TRS 341: Sickness, Death, and Christian Ritual
A liturgical theological study of "Pastoral Care of the Sick: Rites of Anointing and Viaticum" and the "Order of Christian Funerals" as well as an exploration of customs such as pilgrimage to shrines associated with healing and ritual practices accompanying death.
TRS 342: Sacraments of Initiation
A historical theological study of the present Rites of Initiation, particularly the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults. Selected pastoral questions connected with initiation will also be considered.
TRS 343: Christian Feasts and Devotions
An exploration of the origin, development, and significance of feasts, seasons, and devotions in the life of the Christian community. Sunday observances, Easter and Lent, Christmas and Advent, devotion to the saints, Marian devotions, and Eucharistic devotions.
TRS 741B: Liturgy and Culture
An investigation of the relationship between liturgy and culture from anthropological and theological perspectives. Topics include contemporary notions of culture, symbols, and rituals as mediators of culture, liturgy as the symbolic, ritual action of local churches, issues which have emerged in the reception of Vatican II.
TRS 780A: Intro to the Study of Religion
This course is intended to provide a foundation for further graduate studies in religion by acquainting students with theories and methods from a variety of historical and social-scientific approaches, as well as with issues relating to their application in research. Topics include the development of the discipline of religious studies, anthropology of religion, psychology of religion, sociology of religion, and others.
TRS 840: Liturgical Theology
A review and critique of representative twentieth-century attempts to recover the classic dictum lex orandi, lex credendi in light of its earliest formulation and use in mystagogy and theology. Proposals for how to reshape liturgical theology as a major component of liturgical sacramental method and sacramental catechesis.
TRS 842A: Interpreting the Ritual Event
In this seminar the work of selected ritual theorists will be used to explore various approaches to interpreting ritual events. The approaches can be useful in the study of liturgy or other religious rituals. Students will be expected to produce a research paper of 25-35 pages and to present their papers in the seminar.
TRS 842C: Select Questions in Liturgical Spirituality
This seminar will explore the following topics: the nature of liturgical spirituality; koinonia as foundational for liturgical spirituality; the role of imagination in liturgical spirituality; ritual formation for transformation; the relationship between liturgy and popular devotions in Christian spirituality. Students will be expected to produce a research paper of 25 - 35 pages and to present their work in the seminar.
